Academics

Lower School: Grades 1-4

As a Catholic school, the students’ day is grounded in faith, service and community. We participate in a variety of service projects throughout the year such as food collections and community outreach. Older students act as mentors to younger students both spiritually and academically in our Buddy program. Students participate in weekly school masses.

Language Arts

Our Language Arts curriculum is a literacy-based program that teaches independence and gives children the skills needed to create a lifelong love of reading, through our Fountas and Pinnell Reading Program.  Students express themselves through a balanced reading/writing curriculum wherein students work in small groups learning individual skills and reading strategies.  They also work on writing activities, read independently, have opportunities for public speaking, and performing arts. Traditional manuscript and cursive handwriting is a portion of time at school.  

Math

Math follows the standards, building and expanding knowledge as the student’s progress through the grades. Prior knowledge is accessed to assist during instruction. Each grade builds on previous skills in the four operations. Mathematical concepts are developed as students are introduced to skills as stated in the standards.  Students in grades 3 and 4 are required to have an ALEKS account wherein their math level is individualized and encouraged at their own pace. 

Science and Social Studies

Science and Social Studies are unit-based programs. Students are introduced to concepts and ideas beginning with the community to global awareness. Projects and research are woven into the learning experience.  Students have time in our STEM LAB where they have the freedom and are encouraged with creativity to build, engineer and manipulate several STEM materials.  

Special Projects and Activities

Our school days include many project activities to enhance our curriculum. Below is a sample of special/group projects:

  • Daily Five and Guided Reading (Language Arts)
  • Buddy Mentoring Program
  • Group/Class Projects:
    • Embryology: Hatching of Chicks (Grade 1)
    • Community Project (Grade 2)
    • Colonial Day, State Reports (Grade 4)
    • Illinois State Projects (Grade 3)
  • Grade Level Plays
  • Christmas Pageant (Grades 1-3)
  • Field Days
  • All School Reading Program
  • 100 Day Celebration
  • Monarch Book Award: Illinois Participating School (Grades K-3) 
  • School Book Fair
  • Oral Book reports 
  • OLWEUS Care and Kindness Program with weekly classroom meetings
  • Feed My Starving Children (Grades 3-4)
  • Service Projects

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